Prior to Upton Sinclair's (1878-1968) exposé of the meat packing industry in his novel "The Jungle", the public was unaware of the brutal, dangerous, and unsanitary conditions inside factories; the novel illuminates the harsh working environments of factories, the cruel treatment of workers (particularly of immigrants to the United States), and the wage-slavery perpetuated by factory owners. After its publication, "The Jungle" caused a huge public outcry, leading to reforms like the Meat Inspection Act; although Sinclair had intended his novel to advocate socialism as a solution to the plight of workers, people focused more on the unsanitary conditions and health violations present in the meat packing industry.

This publication by the Limited Editions Club contains a new preface by Sinclair, in which he looks back after sixty years since the book's publication, and ink wash drawings by Fletcher Martin (1904-1979), who portrays the hopelessness and savagery of working class conditions through chaotic line work and vigorous colours.

___DESCRIPTION: Quarter brown pigskin with tan paper boards, title and author name blind-embossed on the spine, top edge brown, frontispiece a full-colour ink wash drawing by Fletcher Martin, title page with yellow line drawing of a meat hook, full-colour ink wash drawings and two-colour line drawings by Martin throughout; monotype Scotch, Curtis cream-white paper, quarto size (11" by 7.25"), pagination: [i-iv] v-xi [xii] [1-2] 3-334 [335] [1 colophon], one of 1500 copies, this number 351, signed by Upton Sinclair and Fletcher Martin on the colophon. With the Limited Editions Club Monthly Letter, one sheet folded once, and the announcement for the book, one leaf, both loosely laid in. In a slipcase covered in brown paper, with a cream paper spine label with brown top and bottom edges and lettering.

___CONDITION: A fine copy; the covers clean, the corners straight and unrubbed, the binding tight with solid hinges, the interior clean and bright, and free of prior owner markings; clean, crisp, as new. The slipcase is near fine, strong and sturdy, clean overall with the barest hint of a stray mark or two, without wear, with some sunning to the spine and at the edges. The LEC Monthly Letter and announcement are fine, clean, without wear, the monthly letter with only the original mailing fold.

___CITATION: LEC no. 373.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.